James Wallace & the Naked Light (Nashville, TN)

James Wallace & the Naked Light - The Wire Reprise / Kicked Down the Roa

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James Wallace is the kind of guy you’d want on your side if you ever got into a music fight in prison: smart, versatile, and a little bit reckless. With songs that come out of nowhere and stick with you like a sharpened spoon in your back, Wallace composes music with the brain of a book-cooking accountant and the eyes of a crazy homeless man that lives down the street.

— RVA MAG

Somewhere between the brain of a book cooking accountant, and the eyes of a crazy homeless man who lives down the street. I was born on October 6th, 1984 in Richmond, Virginia, while the Grateful Dead were playing “Going to Hell in a Bucket” two miles away at the Richmond Colosseum. I was raised on pee-wee herman. In 2002, on a rainy morning in July, the pull-string voice-box on my Pee-Wee doll was no longer sounding human. I left Richmond, and in just four years, made it to Nashville. I work as a Chinese Translator. Now I play music to keep from getting carpel tunnel.

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“A common complaint among those who follow new rock and pop is that there’s too much good music to take in. An intimate festival like Secret Stages confirms that’s so by emphasizing discovery rather than highlighting a dizzying cavalcade of established artists and newcomers rocketing toward the top. In a convivial atmosphere among eager, open-minded fans, Secret Stages illustrated that what’s bubbling beneath contemporary music’s densely populated surface is worthy of attention, too.”

—The Wall Street Journal

“Secret Stages finds a way to blend every slice of Birmingham life. And doesn’t hesitate to remind you that uplifting something new still manages to honor the past.”

—Uproxx

“If you want to find the unheard sounds of young, Southern musicians, the best place to do it these days is Birmingham’s annual Secret Stages Festival.”

—The Bitter Southerner

“In this age of instant gratification, the concept of a music festival where the main goal is for patrons to discover new bands – rather than see bands they already know and love – is risky to say the least. Yet here we are, in the fifth year of Secret Stages, and it’s going as strong as ever.”

—AL.com

“Secret Stages is already a far, far better music festival than anyone dreamed it might be.”

—Black & White

“…one of the biggest bangs for your buck you’re likely to find anywhere.”

—Chattanooga Pulse

"This festival is one of my favorite regional events. Most of these bands have yet to break out of their respective local scenes…It’s a great chance to wander around and discover a bunch of new music."

—Little Advances

“Secret Stages succeeded in having more depth in regional and national indie acts than the recent Soundland (aka Next Big Nashville) and had the out-of-the-box feel that SXSW had 15-20 years ago.”

—Performer

“Secret Stages is a testament to the vitality of the music landscape.”

—Southern Living

“…one of the most exciting new music festivals in the Southeast”

—The Audiovore

“Despite the lack of marquee headliners, that are used to draw large audiences and boost attendance, Secret Stages continues to be a breath of fresh air in its commitment to local artists and their promotion. This ethic has proven to be effective as more and more people each year choose to attend Secret Stages.”

—The Blue Indian (Macon)

“It would have been anybody’s guess that Birmingham would host the best Indie Festival in the Southeast.”

—The Nashville Bridge

“With so many new or little-known acts coming to town, Secret Stages is shaping up to be Birmingham’s best event of the summer for discovering new music.”

—Weld

“…At so many shows and festivals, the artists play their set and then get out. Not so with Secret Stages. I shook hands and spoke with nearly every act I saw. There’s a personal element to Secret Stages that I really haven’t seen anywhere else.”